John Hansard Gallery (Guildhall Square): 07 – 15 June

Exhibiting Artists:

John Hansard Gallery is one of Britain’s leading public galleries of contemporary art. Part of the University of Southampton, they support, develop and present work by outstanding artists from across the world. Established in 1979, they play a dynamic role in the cultural life of Southampton and the region. They offer a place to visit for extraordinary experiences, where audiences can see and think about the world differently. Their programme consists of five exhibitions per year in the main site in Highfield, alongside innovative off-site projects in other citywide locations and touring projects with galleries and institutions elsewhere in the UK and internationally. They aim to reveal the rich diversity of contemporary art, from emerging talents to major international figures, from solo projects to historical surveys, and from painting, sculpture and photography, to film, performance, installations and digital media. Rooted in a research-led ethos, their programme seeks to bring together rigorous scholarship and contemporary art practice, presented to the widest possible audience. They have an outstanding track record of working in collaboration with artists, curators, galleries, institutions and other organisations, both across the UK and internationally.

Turner Sims Concert Hall 3 June – 8 July

Exhibiting Artists:

Turner Sims is acknowledged as one of the finest music venues in the country. Hosting over 60 concerts a year, it attracts internationally renowned performers such as Courtney Pine, Nicola Benedetti, Hugh Masekela, Mitsuko Uchida and the Vienna Piano Trio. Situated on the University of Southampton’s Highfield Campus, the varied programme includes classical, jazz, folk and world music, as well as talks from personalities.

Turner Sims is located in the gardens of the University of Southampton’s Highfield Campus, set back from University Road between the Nuffield Theatre and the John Hansard Gallery.

Situated in the heart of the town, Bridport Arts Centre hosts a wide variety of productions in theatre, music, comedy, dance and film alongside an exciting programme of exhibitions. They have an innovative and vibrant participatory programme featuring take part events and activities for all age groups. Bridport Arts Centre is also host to the international writing competition The Bridport Prize and organises two festivals – From Page to Screen and The Bridport Open Book Festival.

The Arts Centre also works on off-site collaborations and recently was a principle partner on ExLab, a visual arts project responding to the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, a 95 mile section of stunning Dorset and East Devon coastline. ExLab brought together artists with earth and social scientists to investigate our understanding of this special coastal environment. ExLab presented new creative work arising from this arts / science dialogue during July – September 2012 as part of the Cultural Olympiad. Bridport Arts Centre and PVA Media Lab (now DIVA Contemporary) commissioned an exciting project based at Hive Beach, working with artists’ studio Proboscis (www.proboscis.org.uk), and partners the Hive Beach Café and the National Trust. Called Storyweir, the commission saw Proboscis artists Alice Angus, Gary Stewart and Stefan Kueppers research and collaborate with geographers, earth scientists, the café and communities on the coast at Hive Beach, exploring how the human story of the Jurassic coast and the geological history influence each other.

Winchester Science Centre is the South of England’s hands-on interactive science and technology centre and the UK’s largest capacity digital Planetarium. It is a major family resource and school visit destination near Winchester, Hampshire. The main exhibition spaces offers 100 interactive exhibits demonstrating the science and technology of the world around us in an engaging and exciting way that encourages participation. The Astrium Planetarium offers a digital state-of-the-art theatre with a variety of shows to suit all interests. Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium attracts over 150,000 people a year and is open 7 days a week.

The most recent exhibition Neuromedia Art and Neuroscience Research Exhibition is a unique immersive exhibition about molecular and cellular research and human health from a series of art and science collaborations. Jill Scott, curator, has created a contemplative environment to learn about current research in the neural development, the visual system, tactile perception and our skin and our environment through interactive sculptures, documentary films, drawings and photographs. Neuromedia raises viewers’ curiosity about how their own bodies develop and function and about neurobiological anatomy through four interactive media artworks. These allow viewers to use their own tactile senses in order to enhance their education. These processes of production and scientific research are used as catalysts to encourage wonder. Jill Scott is a Swiss Australian artist and founder of the Swiss Artists-in-Labs program and the Z-node Doctorial program on Art and Science Research at the Institute for Cultural Studies, University of the Arts (ZHdK) Zurich. For 30 years her artworks have focused on body politics and the media representations of our bodies, our health and our shared visions.